Source: Cubs land Kevin Gausman in trade with Blue JaysJesse RogersAug 2, 2026, 09:10 PM ETClose
- Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.
The Chicago Cubs are acquiring right-hander Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays for Triple-A outfielder Brett Bateman and Class-A infielder Ty Southisene, sources told ESPN.
With Gausman, the Cubs land a playoff-caliber starter they’ve been chasing all trade deadline. The Athletic first stated news of him being acquired.
The 35-year-old Gausman, an impending free agent who is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA and 127 strikeouts this season, can be a ready-made October starter who is a classic example of how to succeed as a frontline right-handed pitcher with a standout fastball/changeup combo but a breaking ball that lags well behind them.
He’s in the last year of a five-year, $110 million deal where Gausman was the fourth-best pitcher in baseball in that span, posting 20.1 WAR so far — easily beating his contract in value delivered to the Blue Jays. He’s struggled more recently, compiling a 6.47 ERA over his last eight starts.
Cubs Starting Pitching – This SeasonThe Cubs are hoping Kevin Gausman can bolster a starting pitching rotation that has struggled this season to strike out hitters and keep the ball in the park.
MLB RankERA4.2314thK rate20.5%22ndOpp SLG.42023rdHR allowed10229thIronically, the worst of those outings came at Wrigley Field, where he lasted just two innings while giving up seven runs on seven hits and four walks. In his last start with the Blue Jays on Saturday, he gave up just one run on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.The Cubs and Blue Jays play a make-up game at Wrigley Field on Thursday, which could line up for Gausman’s first outing as a Cub. Gausman joins Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga near the top of the Cubs rotation though recently acquired lefty David Peterson has also pitched well since arriving from the Mets.
Chicago is slowly getting healthier after a string of pitching injuries. They trail the Milwaukee Brewers by 6.5 games as Monday’s trade deadline approaches.
Gausman, who is the career leader in strikeouts via the splitter (490) in the Statcast era, has thrown the third-most innings in baseball since 2021, making him a dependable starter. He has plenty of postseason experience, helping the Blue Jays to the World Series last year. He has a 3.83 ERA in 14 career playoff games.
Bateman, 24, an eighth-round pick in 2023, was hitting .312 in 81 games for Triple-A Iowa. Southisene, 21, was a fourth-round pick in 2024 and was hitting .311 at two levels of Class-A this season, where he combined for 31 stolen bases.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan contributed to this report.
